Reach

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has released its Volume-Related Composite Price Index (VRCPI) for the railways.

The VRCPI was increased by 5.39  per cent for CN to 1.9281 and 6.49 per cent for CPKC to 1.8760  for the new crop year beginning August 1st.

The index is an inflation factor determined by detailed railway submissions and reflects a composite of the forecasted prices for railway labour, fuel, material, and capital purchases.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Seed Regulatory Modernization Survey is set to wrap up May 1st.

The online survey covering seed crops only opened in February as part of the CFIA's efforts to modernize the Seed Regulations.

The CFIA is looking for input from businesses, farm organizations, the seed and grain sector, farmers, seed growers, analysts, developers, and conditioners.

Anyone interested in variety registration, sampling, testing and grading of seed, or the sale, import and export of seed is encouraged to participate.

Numbers 27:12–23

Then Moses said to the LORD, “O LORD, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15–17)

Cuba Gooding Jr.'s newest role on the big screen has him portraying a drug dealer-turned-Christian in the inspiring film The Firing Squad. 

"I got the script sent to me for this film, and it hit me so powerfully that these men had nothing to live for, but found faith in the darkest times in their lives, in a jail cell," says Gooding Jr. in an interview. "They were able to face the inevitable with dignity and pride."

Colton Dixon, Melinda Doolittle and Danny Gokey graced the stage of American Idol Monday night to sing a special tribute to their late friend and former contestant Mandisa.

The trio sang Mary Mary's 'Shackles' while photos of Mandisa were projected onto the walls surrounding the stage. 

"That is how to celebrate Mandisa," said Ryan Seacrest following the performance.

Ephesians 4:15

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Grain movement on CN Rail lines has been fairly consistent over the last few weeks.

CN's Assistant Vice-President of Grain says demand remained strong right through April.

David Przednowek says we haven't seen that seasonal drop-off for seeding, but that could be because spring seeding has been slow to develop.

Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, have unveiled plans for a cross-province passenger rail network.

A Passenger Rail Master Plan will be developed to implement a commuter rail system in and around Alberta's two biggest cities.

The network would connect nearby communities to the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, and both cities' respective airports to their downtown cores.

Farm Credit Canada has been studying farmland rental rates as compared to farmland values.

Data shows the national rent-to-price ratio in 2023 was 2.52%, reflecting a negligible decline from the previous year. 

FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says in 2023 we saw some fairly strong farmland value growth across the prairies, especially in Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba,
while Alberta had a little bit slower growth, but it was still positive.

Farmers have started turning their attention to spring seeding as they wrap up soil tests, check moisture, prep equipment, start doing some pre-seed burnoff, seed treatments
and start planting.

Some producers have slowly started their seeding operations hoping to take advantage of whatever moisture they can, while others are getting ready.

Rain and snow over the last few weeks have been a welcome sight but more is needed after a fairly dry winter resulted in a lack of snow cover in many areas.